title: Tissue engineering and peripheral nerve reconstruction: an overview.
abstract: Nerve repair is no more regarded as merely a matter of microsurgical reconstruction. To define this evolving reconstructive/regenerative approach, the term tissue engineering is being increasingly used since it reflects the search for interdisciplinary and integrated treatment strategies. However, the drawback of this new approach is its intrinsic complexity, which is the result of the variety of scientific disciplines involved. This chapter presents a synthetic overview of the state of the art in peripheral nerve tissue engineering with a look forward at the most promising innovations emerging from basic science investigation. This review is intended to set the stage for the collection of papers in the thematic issue of the International Review of Neurobiology that is focused on the various interdisciplinary approaches in peripheral nerve tissue engineering.
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Institute of the Cavalieri Ottolenghi Foundation (NICO), University of Turin, Orbassano (TO), Italy; Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Orbassano (TO), Italy. Electronic address: stefano.geuna@unito.it.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Geuna
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gnavi
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Perroteau
authors.forename: Pierluigi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tos
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Battiston
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D059348:Peripheral Nerve Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends
keywords: Biomaterials; Cell and tissue transplantation; Gene therapy; Microsurgical reconstruction; Pharmacotherapy; Physical therapy; Tissue engineering